HOUSE, 45th General Assembly, 1887-89; representing Montgomery County; Democrat. Born in Davidson County Oct. 31, 1854; son of the Rev. H. L. and Mary L. (Vick) Burney. Described as having a "good classical education"; graduated from law school of Cumberland University, Lebanon, Wilson County, in 1876. Married Feb. 10, 1880, to Clara Kennedy of Clarksville, Montgomery County, daughter of D. N. and Sarah A. (Bailey) Kennedy; children – Robert Harris, Jr., Sarah B., and Mary L. Began practice of law at Clarksville and continued there. Elected district attorney general 1878; serving eight years; chairman county Democratic Executive Committee, 1890-91. Member Presbyterian Church; Knighs of Pythias; Clarksvile Bar Assn. Died at Clarksville May 28, 1899; buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Sources:  Clarksville Daily Leaf-Chronicle, May 29, 1899; Daily Tobacco Leaf-Chronicle, Aug. 9, 1890; Clarksville Daily Star, Feb 27, 1939; Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, 313; Montgomery County Tombstone Records, 53, 90; Goodspeed, History of Montgomery County, 1013.
 

Biographies submitted by Jill Hastings-Johnson, Montgomery County Archivist